Headlight



Aug. 4, 1925. 154,294

A. D. WILKKNSQN HEADLIGHT Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,548,294 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. WILKINSON, OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

nmnmenr.

Application filed February 10, 1925. Serial No. 8,145.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. WILKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Methuen, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Headlights, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates particularly to a headlight for a motor vehicle, the headlight includinga parabolic reflector and an incandescent electric lamp, whose source of light is at the focal point of the reflector. It is now customary to make the bulb of a headlight lamp substantially spherical, the bulb and the reflector having a common focal point.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment including alight shield and a clasp of improved constructlon adapted to cooperate with a spherical lamp bulb in locating and securely maintaining the shield in a predetermined position relative to the reflector and the source of light, so that the shield may be quickly and conveniently located in the bulb in position to intercept direct light projected from the source toward the open end or mouth of the reflector, and permit only the projection of reflected light, thus minimizing the glaring effect of the projected light.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificat1on,-

Figure 1 shows in section, the parabolic reflector, andin elevation-the lamp and a shield, and securing means. embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view, and

Figure 3 a top plan view of the lamp, the shield and the securing means.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the securing means shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of the shield, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a. section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 designates a parabolic reflector which may be of any suitable construction, and is provided with a socket 13, with which the base 14 of the usual lamp is detachably connected. The source of light designated by 15, is at the focal point of the reflector, and at the focal point of the substantially spherical bulb 16, ofthe lamp, as usual.

17 designates an opaque concave-convex light shield, the concave side of WlllCll conforms accurately to a portion of the periphery of the bulb, and is preferably provided with a. reflecting face 17" (Fi ure 6). When the shield is secured to the ulb in the position shown by Figures 1, 2, and 3,

the focal point of the reflecting face 17" is at the focal point of the main reflector 12, said main reflector and reflecting face hav ing a. common focal point.

The shield is now in osition to intercept direct li ht projecting rom the source 15, toward idle openend or mouth of the main reflector, thus reducing the intensity and the glaring effect of light projecting from the mouth of the main reflector, and to cause the convergence of the light reflected by the face 18 wholly upon said source. The intensity of the light radiated from the source 15, upon the main reflector is therefore in-.

creased, the light intercepted by the shield being thus conservedand utilized for radia tion upon the main reflector.

The shield 17 has a. circular margin which i preferably proportioned and arranged to intercept all light projected from the source 15, toward the mouth of the reflector 12, when the shield is located in the predetermined position shown, without intercepting light projected from the source against the main reflector from the mouth thereof inward, so that practically the entire surface of the reflector 12 is utilized to project reflected light. The shadow cast by the shield is indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1, the shadow filling the mouth of the reflector 12 without encroaching noticeably on the reflecting surface thereof. As indicated by the broken lines 18, and the broken lines 19. the only light projected from the mouth of the reflector 12 is reflected light.

I embody the means cooperating with the bulb to secure the shield in the described predetermined position, in aclasp of resilient wire, such as so-called piano wire, said clasp being engaged with the shield and projecting from the concave side thereof. I

The shield is provided with a bevelled annular flange 24, forming by its intersection with the convex side of the shield, a marginal groove 25'. The flange is provided with a notch 26, as shown by Figure 5. The clasp is composed of a length of resilient wire having free ends, as shown by Figure 4. The clasp includes a looped neck 20, formed from the midlength portion of the wire and adapted to embrace the major portion of the inner end zone of the bulb 16, as shown by Figures 1 and 3, curved arms 21 connected with the neck and formed to bear on an intermediate lateral portion of the bulb between the end zones thereof, and curved terminals 22 including the free ends of the wire and connected with the arms. by abruptly bent necks 23 (Figure 4) formed to extend through the notch 26. The terminals 22 are in a plane substantially parallel with the plane, of the neck and are formed to lie in portions of the groove at opposite sides of the notch. The neck 20 is adapted to have an elongated bearing on the inner end zone of the bulb, and confine the arms 21 and terminals 22 in their operative positions, so that accidental outward endwise displacement of the clasp and shield i prevented.

The clasp in the condition shown by Figure 4, may be engaged with the bulb, by moving the latter endwise between the terminals 22 and into the neck 20, until the inner end zone of the bulb comes to a bearing on the neck, the terminals 22 hearing loosely on the outer end zone of the bulb. The shield is then moved edgewise to place between the terminals 22, and between said terminals and the bulb, until the terminals are seated in the groove 25, and the necks 23 are within the notch 26. 'The form and a material of the clasp are such that the obstruction ofiered thereby to light radiated from the source 15 is negligible.

I claim:

For use with an electric lamp having a substantially spherical bulb; an attachment comprising a. concavo-convex light shield shaped to conform to the outer end zone of the bulb, and provided with a marginal flange intersecting the convex face of the shield to form a groove, a portion of the flange being cut away to form a notch, and a clasp composed of a length of resilient wire having free ends, the clasp including a looped neck formed from the midlength portion of the wire, and adapted to embrace the major portion of the inner end zone of the bulb, curved arms connected with the neck and formed to bear on an intermediate lateral portion of the bulb, between the end zones thereof, and curved terminals including the free ends of the wire, connected with the arms by abruptly bent necks formed to extend through the flange notch, the terminals being in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the neck and, formed to lie in-portions of the groove at opposite sides of the notch, the neck being adapted to have an elongated bearing on the inner end zone of the bulb and confine the arms and terminals in their operative positions, so that accidental outward endwise displacement of the clasp and shield is prevented.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ALBERT D. WILKINSON.- 

